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NBA explores idea of moving back the draft

NEW YORK – The NBA is exploring the possibility of pushing back its annual draft at least a week, a person familiar with discussions between the league and its TV partners told USA TODAY Sports. The person

The NBA believes it can turn the draft into a bigger event and showcase its new players and generate more interest in the draft by creating more distance between the conclusion of the Finals and the draft. The hangover from the Finals lingers into draft week, suppressing some of the drama, excitement and coverage leading up to the event.

NBA and ABC/ESPN and Turner executives began preliminary discussions during the playoffs about the next TV deal – the current deal expires after the 2015-16 season – and moving the draft back was part of the talks.

However, there is concern that moving the draft will extend an already long NBA year. Pushing the draft back would also delay the start of free agency and the popular summer leagues in Orlando and Las Vegas.

The league wants to avoid dragging a significant portion of free agency and summer leagues into August. If the NBA can find a way to wrap up most of free agency and the summer leagues by the end of July, it will continue to explore the idea.

Cody Zeller, along with teammate Victor Oladipo, made history by being the highest pair of picks ever for Indiana after the Charlotte Bobcats drafted him fourth overall.
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After being widely considered the top pick coming into the draft, Kentucky's Nerlens Noel slipped all the way to the New Orleans Pelicans at the sixth spot and then was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports

After drafting Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard out of of the Big Sky Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers selected another mid-major player in Lehigh's C.J. McCollum from the Patriot League with the 10th pick.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports